[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 8, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H9994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NICS AND HEALTH CARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, every week I stand here and I talk about 
common-sense approaches to reducing gun violence in this country, and 
yet this body sees fit to chip away at existing laws. So tonight I want 
to talk about the effects of gun violence in terms that everybody in 
this body understands, dollars and cents.
  Throughout America our States are experiencing extraordinary budget 
problems, forcing them to cut spending on many important initiatives. A 
great deal of these budget woes are caused by skyrocketing health care 
costs, and the proposed cuts for Medicaid are not going to help the 
situation.
  Among the initiatives being neglected because of State budget 
crunches is the National Instant Criminal Background Check. NICS is the 
database used to determine whether an individual is legally allowed to 
purchase a gun or not. Since its inception in 1994, NICS has been a 
great success. More than 700,000 individuals have been denied a gun for 
failing a background check.
  However, the NICS system is only as good as the information that is 
in it, and because of tight budgets, updating the NICS database has 
fallen off the radar for many States. But as Congress continues to 
weaken our gun laws, we increasingly rely on the National Instant 
Background Check System to assure our constituents that guns do not 
fall into the wrong hands. But, unfortunately, the NICS database has 
become dangerously incomplete.
  For example, half of all States have entered less than 60 percent of 
their convicted felons into the NICS system. Thirteen States have 
failed to enter the subjects of restraining orders stemming from 
domestic violence into the NICS system. And, of course, in all 50 
States, people who are listed on the terrorist watch list cannot get on 
a plane, but they can buy a gun. This defies common sense.
  I have introduced H.R. 1415, legislation that will require States to 
enter in all NICS information as quickly as possible. My bill would 
also provide grants to States that do not have the resources needed to 
update their databases. These grants will not only keep guns out of the 
hands of felons, but will reduce the States' out-of-control health care 
costs as well.
  Of course, Congress will not allow funding for the Centers for 
Disease Control to study the economic impact of gun violence, so we 
have to use data from independent sources. Independent sources have 
shown gun violence costs our economy over $100 billion a year, $100 
billion a year. In fact, each gun death costs our economy $2.8 million. 
And much of the cost is picked up by the State and local governments.
  Gun violence increases law enforcement spending. Gun violence costs 
the economy lost productivity. And while Congress will not let us learn 
the exact amount, gun violence costs our health care system billions 
each and every year. And since gun violence plagues so many low-income 
communities, victims are often uninsured. And who picks up the tab for 
uninsured victims of gun violence? American taxpayers. That is who.
  Passage of H.R. 1415 would serve as preventive medicine for the 
public health care system in many States. This legislation would 
prevent gun violence without infringing on anyone's second amendment 
rights. Nobody in this body believes convicted felons should be able to 
own guns. In fact, H.R. 1415 passed the House by a voice vote in the 
107th Congress. Unfortunately, the other body did not have time to pick 
the bill up. But the bill had the support of several Senators who are 
known for their strong support of gun rights.
  We have an opportunity to reduce health care costs and save lives by 
improving the NICS system. Mr. Speaker, let us pass H.R. 1415, the NICS 
Enforcement and Improvement Act, before the end of the year. Let us 
give the States the help that they need.

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